Miles Austin Injury: Dez Bryant Appears Ready to Pick Up Austin's Slack

Miles Austin will not be on the field for the Cowboys in Monday night's contest against the Washington Redskins, according to the Dallas Morning News.

This is a big blow to the Cowboys passing attack, but one that should be mitigated by the fact that Dez Bryant should be able to take the field.

The Fort-Worth Star Telegram reported that both Dez Bryant and Tony Romo appeared ready to play following Saturday's practice.

While Bryant may not be up to the task of completely filling Austin's shoes, he is close. Austin has gotten off to a torrid start with 14 catches for 233 yards and four touchdowns.

Bryant had three catches for 71 yards, before being hobbled by a thigh injury in the Cowboys' Week 1 loss to the Jets.

He and Romo clearly had some chemistry building prior to Bryant hobbling around the field. Romo had so much confidence in the second-year wideout, he tried to force the ball to him in the fourth quarter despite Bryant being able to run at a pace slightly above a jog and being defended by Darrelle Revis.

That pass did not work out well for Romo and the Cowboys, but I expect a much better outcome for the pair this Monday.

Romo's status for the game was in serious question after suffering a rib and lung injury last week, but apparently he is ready to roll.

He even bounced back from a hit in Saturday's practice. It is hard to imagine that a Cowboy defensive player would be foolish enough to touch, let alone hit, Romo in a practice, but one did. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan seemed a little shocked as well.

Ryan, as quoted on Fort-Worth Star Telegram:

"

"I think that was a mistake. I hope it was a mistake. I was like, 'Oh my God, probably not what we’re looking for'. Great effort, though."

"

Yeah...probably not what they were looking for at all.